Annie Lennox, Gary Oldman and Lorde Salute David Bowie at the Brit Awards

Singer Annie Lennox led a touching tribute to David Bowie at the 2016 Brit Awards on Wednesday night.

The Eurythmics singer took to the stage at London's O2 Arena to salute the rocker ahead of his posthumous Icon Award presentation.

"David Bowie is deeply embedded in the heart of British culture," she said. "Influencing every decade from the moment he first appeared on the airways in 1969 right up to the present day, he expanded our horizons and turned everything on its head into glorious technicolour.

"As a songwriter and a rock star there was no one and nothing else like him, he was truly unique. A quintessential visionary, shape-shifting persona, gracious and dangerous, loved and revered for as long as the earth still spins."

The 61-year-old added the Let's Dance singer had a "special kind of significance", admitting it was still hard for her to speak about him in the past tense. She then introduced his close friend, Hollywood actor Gary Oldman to the stage to receive the award on behalf of David's family.

The 57-year-old said his friend was the embodiment of the word icon, adding, "He emphasised originality, exploration, in his own way he also reminded us to never take ourselves too seriously.

"David was funny, hilariously so. The laughs were many and massive and I shall miss them."

Gary, who appeared in Bowie's The Next Day video, also revealed his pal's humor continued even after he was diagnosed with liver cancer.

"His outlook was always positive, David faced his illness with enormous courage, dignity and customary humor," The Dark Knight star continued. "Even in dire circumstances when he wrote to tell me the bad news... he said, 'The good news is I've got my cheekbones back'. He was the sweetest soul ever. You were mortal but your potential was superhuman, your remarkable music is living on."

The speeches were followed by a musical tribute featuring singer Lorde and Bowie's backing band, who tackled a rendition of Life on Mars.